District 211 apologizes for antisemitic reply sent by former student in general email

An antisemitic comment determined to have been sent by a former student was able to be shared on a widely distributed back-to-school email from Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 last week, officials said.

In a statement posted Monday, administrators said a glitch after the district moved its email system to Google Workspace caused a routine email intended for internal use to be shared with current and former students and staff members.

All members of that distribution list were then able to reply to all, resulting not only in an excessive amount of emails in the chain but also the offensive antisemitic one sent by a former student.

The district learned of that particular reply — reported as “Hail Hitler” — through a formal complaint it received Friday. Monday’s statement addressed the problem and the steps taken to correct it.

“District 211 does not condone racist, antisemitic, or discriminatory comments of any kind,” the statement reads. “We recognize the importance of responding promptly; however, it is also important to conduct a careful and thorough review before sharing conclusions publicly, including confirming who authored the comment and the circumstances surrounding it.”

The district’s technology department worked to stop continued responses to the full distribution list even as it retracted the previous emails. An initial statement on the district’s website, before the offensive email was reported, addressed only the large amount of emails students and staff were receiving.

But Monday’s statement sought to address all the problems that were encountered.

“Although we cannot undo the harm caused by a message that conflicts with our mission, values, and goals, we remain committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which every student, employee, and family member feels safe, respected, and valued,” the statement reads.